Queen's Birthday Honours

Alumni

University of Adelaide Chancellor the Hon. John von Doussa QC leads a distinguished group of University alumni recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

A 1962 Law graduate of the University, Mr von Doussa received the Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in recognition of his distinguished service to the law, for his work as President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, as a judge in federal and international courts, and for his outstanding service to higher education.

"I was thrilled to receive the award, and of course my family was very excited about it," Mr von Doussa said.

"I have been lucky in my career to be offered very interesting positions. I have found them all challenging and have been fortunate throughout to work with marvellous colleagues and staff whose support has been invaluable."

Mr von Doussa said the University of Adelaide had played an important role both in the formative and latter stages of his career.

"My first big stroke of good luck was to come to the University of Adelaide when enrolment was simply a matter of choosing which course to enrol in - there were no entry quotas and cost was really no barrier to undertaking a course," he said.

"Student life was easy then and there was ample time for the social aspects of a memorable university experience.

"Looking back, I am sure that the solid grounding I received at the University of Adelaide Law School made my advancement through the ranks of the legal profession possible."

Mr von Doussa became the 14th Chancellor of the University of Adelaide in 2004. From 2003-2008 he served as President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, having been a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia since 1988 and holding numerous other prominent legal positions in Australia, Vanuatu and Fiji.

He will retire from the position of University of Adelaide Chancellor later this month, and will be succeeded in the position by former Federal Senator and Representative of Australia to the United Nations, the Hon. Robert Hill.

"It has been a great honour and privilege to be associated with the governance of one of Australia's leading universities, and one which has an international reputation for its excellence in research and teaching," Mr von Doussa said.

For a full list of University of Adelaide alumni to receive Queen's Birthday Honours, please visit: www.alumni.adelaide.edu.au/queensbday_honours

Story by Ben Osborne